Crusader Exhaust Tips

The round Crusader gaskets have tabs that stick up above the parts for easy identification. The “one hole” gasket has 2 tabs and is always used at the elbow. The “three hole” gasket has only 1 tab and is always used at the bottom of the risers to allow maximum water flow to fill the manifold and riser.

Note: When using the stainless blocking plate use 2 gaskets and sandwich the stainless plate between them.

Since the plate blocks the flow of water either gasket can be used. Proper placement of the thermostat element is critical in the cooling of the engine and manifolds. Many installers incorrectly put the element into the intake manifold, as in a car application. In most cases, the thermostat should be installed under the top cover of the thermostat housing, not into the intake manifold. If installed incorrectly the distribution of water to all components can be compromised and cause overheating and possibly damage your engine.

Never run your engine without a thermostat. Yes, it makes your gauge show a cooler temperature, but in reality your exhaust may be overheating dramatically. The thermostat is designed to hold water in the engine long enough to dissipate heat from the engine. If the water flows through too fast, it can not remove the heat from the engine.